Free Guardians of the Galactic Sentinel 1: The Deimos Artifact by Phillip Nolte Page A

that wrecking yard file some paperwork with the authorities back at the Central Planets."
    "What kind of paperwork?"
    "You know, permits and such. As far as I know you'll just have to pay some processing fees back at Central, sign a few papers and it'll all be legit. The authorities out here at Haven wouldn't have had any record of it yet. It's probably for the best that they didn't find out about it."
    "I'd have to agree on that," replied Zack "I just hope I can afford it!"
    "I know," said Cliff, "No matter where you go, it seems like there's always somebody with his hand out."
    Zack rolled his eyes as he nodded in agreement.
    "Thing is," Cliff continued, "we'd better check on those permits right soon after we get back to Central."
    "I'll put it on my list," said Zack.
    "To compensate for the extra power demand, he also had the main power plant upgraded to Bombardier Mark IV specs. We have about twenty-five percent more power than a standard Mark II."
    "Yeah, I overheard when you told Beth," said Zack, "The extra power makes good sense. No point in having a weapon if you can't use it without overloading your power plant or severely weakening your shields."
    "I thought so too, but the power plant mods are one more reason why the ship is so finicky. I'm still getting everything dialed in."
    "Good thing we've got you aboard, then."
    "Thanks. Meantime, why don't you finish up and we can go and have a look at the weapon? Wouldn't hurt if we brought our pilot along so the both of you can have a look at the layout of the ship while we're at it. Believe me, Capri ain't anything like a normal Mark II. Oh, and we should get the two of you squared away with a place to sleep too."
    "Sounds good," replied Zack. He swallowed the final bite of his sandwich as he got up, looked over the spread of ingredients he'd gotten out to make the sandwiches and said, "If we're going up to the bridge, I'd better take Beth something to eat; she said she didn't want to get too far away from the controls and she has to be hungry."

 
     
     
    Chapter 7 . A Secret Weapon.
    Deep Space, Barnard's Star System, July 5, 2676
     
    Zack whipped up another sandwich, taking some extra time to fancy it up even a bit more, this time cutting it into quarters. The two men finished cleaning up the galley after their light meal and Zack grabbed a water bulb before the two of them headed up towards the bridge area of the ship. Moments later, they found Beth at the command console, going over the current readouts for the ship.
    "The Chief Cook has prepared a repast for your pleasure, Madam Captain," said Zack, offering the plate to her with a mock flourish.
    The pilot hadn't realized that she was hungry until she saw and smelled the food.
    "Ah yes...thank you...Cook," she said, matching his jest with an exaggeratedly regal air as she accepted his offering.
    "Your wish is my command," he replied.
    She immediately set the plate down in her lap and tucked into the sandwich.
    Zack made a show of looking over the readouts on the first officer's console for the few minutes it took Beth to finish her sandwich.
    "So, what are you two up to?" she said after she had downed the fourth quarter of the sandwich along with half of the bulb of water, "By the way, that sandwich wasn't half bad."
    "Thanks," said Zack, "Wait until you taste what I can do with reconstituted eggs."
    Beth gave him a skeptical look. Unfazed, Zack continued, "Cliff was going to take me on a tour of the ship and I was thinking that it probably wouldn't hurt if you came along too."
    "I'm with Zack, Ma'am," said Cliff, "you really ought to come with us, that way you can get a look at some more of Capri's custom layout and we can inspect some of the modifications that Marv ordered up."
    "So, Madam Captain," said Zack, "can you leave the bridge for a few minutes?"
    Beth gave him another skeptical look before going over the readouts on her command console and concluding that she could probably get away for a few